Coupling arrangement for a telescopic device

ABSTRACT

A telescopic device comprising a first tubular element and an extension member displaceably arranged in an axial direction within the first tubular element, wherein a coupling member is provided relatively displaceable to the extension member, between at least, a first axial position wherein the extension member is displaceable within the first tubular element, and a second axial position wherein the coupling member engages between the extension member and the first tubular element limiting displacement in at least one longitudinal direction, where the coupling member engages the interior of the first tubular element.

TECHNOLOGY FIELD

The present invention relates to a telescopic device and a couplingarrangement for coupling the telescopic device in an extendedconfiguration. In particular the invention relates to a telescopiccatheter and a coupling arrangement for coupling the telescopic devicein a ready-to-use configuration.

BACKGROUND

The use of intermittent catheters has become almost a standard forpersons not able to urinate of free will. Such users, typicallyparalysed persons such as para- and tetraplectics, have found that usingintermittent catheters has greatly improved their freedom to move aroundand lead an active life as catheterisation can be performed anywhere.

However, in order for the user to come out publicly and socialise it hasbecome more and more important that such products are discreet and easyto carry around. Thus, a demand for compact catheters, which can easilybe stored and carried around in handbags or pockets, has grown.

In order to fulfil such needs, products such as the SpeediCath® Compact,produced by Coloplast A/S have been developed. However, this productmainly targets female users. Male users have a much longer urinarychannel and thus other demands and requirements are to be fulfilled fora male product.

Many of these issues and solutions thereto have been discussed in WO2006/045809, which discloses an expandable catheter with a transitionbetween the individual sections allowing insertion of the transitioninto urethra.

However, there is still a need for alternative and improved solutions aswill be discussed herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a first tubular element and anextension member displaceably arranged in an axial direction within thefirst tubular element, wherein a coupling member is provided relativelydisplaceable to the extension member, between at least; a first axialposition wherein the extension member is displaceable within the firsttubular element and a second axial position wherein the coupling memberengages between the extension member and the first tubular elementlimiting displacement in at least one longitudinal direction, where thecoupling member engages the interior of the first tubular element.

It should be understood within the meaning of the present invention thatthe term engage can mean to interlock or cause to interlock between twoparts. Furthermore, the term displace means to move from one position toanother position.

It should be understood within the meaning of the present invention thatthe term interior can mean any part of the first tubular element, whichcannot be construed as facing the exterior of the first tubular element.This may include the inner surface of the tubular element, any form ofgroove or extrusion on the inside of the tubular element or any surfacearea that is not facing the exterior or the outside of the tubularelement, e.g. facing inwards and towards the central longitudinal axisof the first or the second tubular element.

It is preferred that the coupling member is palpable or cannot be feltthrough the walls of the first tubular element by running the fingersacross the outer surface of the first tubular element. This isadvantageous in that the coupling member cannot be felt and does notinjure or damage anatomical structures in the body of a user when thetelescopic device is inserted into the urethra of the user.

By providing a separate coupling member between the telescopic sections,i.e. the tubular element and the extension member, it has shown that therequirements relating to the production tolerances are much smaller, asthe two sections do not have to fit perfectly in order for the couplingmember to function properly.

It should be understood that the coupling member and the extensionmember are capable of relative placement in more than the first andsecond axial position. Thus, there may for example be many intermediatepositions between the first and second axial position.

Telescopic devices may be formed of many different shapes, but typicallythey are formed of cylinder sections, for example catheters. Thus, inone embodiment the coupling member may be a coupling ring having aninner surface facing the extension member and an outer surface facingthe first tubular element.

It should be understood that reference to outer and inner surfaces ofthe different elements of the invention and as described herein shouldbe seen with respect to axis of the telescopic device. Thus, surfacesfacing out and away from the axis of the telescopic device are referredto as outer surfaces, while surfaces facing inwards and towards the axisare referred to as inner surfaces.

In another embodiment, the coupling ring is expandable from a firstradial extent in the first axial position to a second radial extent inthe second axial position and wherein the radial extent of inner surfaceof the coupling ring is larger in the second radial extent than in thefirst radial extent. By enlarging the radial extent of the inner surfaceof the coupling ring, the outer surface will be pressed against theinner surface of the first tubular element, providing a tight grip.Additionally, by forming the coupling ring of a deformable and/orcompressible material it is possible to achieve the frictional gripdesired under many circumstances.

In one or more embodiments, the coupling ring is expandable from a firstradial extent in the first axial position to a second radial extent inthe second axial position and wherein the radial extent of outer surfaceof the coupling ring is larger in the second radial extent than in thefirst radial extent. By enlarging the radial extent of the outer surfaceof the coupling ring, the outer surface will the pressed against theinner surface of the first tubular element, providing a tight grip. Itshould be understood that the coupling ring can be formed of a highfriction material. A high friction material should be understood as amaterial, which when the coupling ring is pressed against the firsttubular element in its second axial position provides a high coefficientof friction. Such coefficient of friction is not absolute and may bealtered for different embodiments. Thus, in one embodiment it can beabove 0.1, however it could be above 0.2 or even 0.3. These valuesshould be considered in view of the coefficient of friction between acoated catheter and the urethra, which may be as low as between 0.03 and0.01.

This may also be considered by adapting the collapsing force, whichshould be understood as being the force required for pushing theextension member into the first tubular element.

Thus, it can be understood that the high friction material can beunderstood as a material, which would provide a collapsing force between5-10N, in some cases.

In further embodiments of the present invention the above mentionedcollapsing force may be in the range between 20-80N, where the specificsize of the collapsing force may be dependent on the size and dimensionsof the telescopic catheter, where catheters which have a small diametermay have less collapsing force than catheters which have a largerdiameter, or vice versa. In one embodiment of the present invention theminimum collapsing force is set at 20N, such that the risk of unwantedcollapse during insertion of the telescopic catheter is reduced. Inanother embodiment, the maximum collapsing force is achieved at 80N,such that the user may willingly collapse the telescopic catheter afteruse. Therefore, in a plurality of embodiments of the present inventionthe minimum collapsing force may be 20N and the maximum collapsing forcemay be 80N and the preferred collapsing force may be somewherein-between the minimum and the maximum value, based on the specificpurpose, size, dimensions or material choice of the telescopic catheter.

In yet another embodiment, the outer surface of the coupling ring can beprovided with at least one rib. Such ribs provide a small contact areaagainst the inner surface of the first tubular element, which result ina corresponding higher pressure than if the whole surface of thecoupling ring distributes the pressure.

Additionally, such ribs, or the whole coupling ring can be formed of arelatively hard material compared to the first tubular element. Thisresults in the fact that the ribs dig into, cut into or deform inwardlythe inner surface of the first tubular element providing a very secureengagement.

In one embodiment, the coupling ring is formed as an open ring, having ac-shape when seen in cross section. This shape allows for the couplingring to be easier deformed when the coupling ring is formed of a hardmaterial as the opening in the c-shape will allow for the ring to bepressed together until the ends of the c-shape meet, providing a smallenveloping circumference. Similarly, it allows for the ring to beopened, i.e. the ends of the c-shape are moved away from each otherproviding a large enveloping circumference.

In another embodiment, the coupling member is arranged around a conicalshaped surface area of the extension member tapering along the axialdirection. Thus, by sliding the coupling member along the conical shapedsurface area it can, in a simple way, be moved between its first axialposition and its second axial position.

In one embodiment it may be desirable to use a different material forthe conical shaped surface area than that used to form the extensionmember in order to achieve different properties and/or for manufacturingreason. The conical shaped surface area can be provided as a separatebushing element attached to the distal end of the extension member.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the coupling memberor coupling ring and the bushing element may be made of two differentmaterials, as tests performed by the inventor indicate that thefrictional forces between two parts constructed out of two differentmaterials are often less than the frictional forces between two partsmade out of the same material.

In one embodiment the bushing element is formed with a through-goingopening along the axial direction. This for example allows forcommunication between passageways in the telescopic device inembodiments, wherein the extension member is a second tubular element.

Such embodiment may for example cover telescopic devices such as atelescopic intermittent urinary catheter, wherein the first tubularelement can be the distal section and the second tubular element can bethe proximal section. This allows urine to flow through both telescopicsections, typically from the bladder through the proximal and outthrough the distal section.

In one embodiment the inner surface of the first tubular element isprovided with at least one protruding rim and/or at least one grove.This provides means to which the annular ribs can engage for improvedcoupling or if no annular ribs are provided it will function as aroughening of the surface, which also provides an improved coupling andengagement between the coupling member and the first tubular element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be discussed further with reference to the followingexample embodiments, wherein

FIG. 1 shows in section the transition area between the proximal sectionand the distal section of a telescopic catheter according to theinvention where the coupling element is in an uncoupled position,

FIG. 2 shows in section the transition area between the proximal sectionand the distal section of a telescopic catheter according to theinvention where the coupling element is in a coupled position,

FIG. 3 shows in section the transition area between the proximal sectionand the distal section of a telescopic catheter according to theinvention where the coupling element is in an uncoupled position,

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b show a section of a catheter according to the presentinvention taken along line IV-IV,

FIG. 5 shows in section the transition area between the proximal sectionand the distal section of one embodiment of a telescopic catheteraccording to the invention where the coupling element is in an uncoupledposition,

FIG. 6 shows in section the same where the coupling element is in acoupled position,

FIG. 7 a and /b shows a section of a telescopic catheter, where onesurface is provided with longitudinal grooves,

FIG. 8 shows a side view of a bushing element and a coupling ringaccording to the present invention,

FIG. 9 shows in section the transition area between the proximal sectionand the distal section of another embodiment of a telescopic catheter,having the bushing element and coupling ring of FIG. 8, where thecoupling element is in a coupled position,

FIG. 10 shows in section the same where the coupling element is in acoupled position,

FIG. 11 shows in section the transition area between the proximalsection and the distal section of yet another embodiment of a telescopiccatheter according to the invention where the coupling element is in anuncoupled position, and

FIG. 12 shows in section the same where the coupling element is in acoupled position,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A telescopic intermittent catheter 1 is shown partly and in section inFIG. 1 around a first axis A-A. The catheter is formed of a proximalsection 2 (corresponding to the extension member described above) and adistal section 3 (corresponding to the first tubular element describedabove). Both sections are formed as tubular elements defining the firstand second passageway 4,5 respectively, through which urine may flow ina flow direction from the first proximal section to the distal sectionduring use.

The outer surface 6 of the proximal section 2 has a circumference, whichis smaller than the circumference of the inner surface 7 of the distalsection 3, so that the proximal section 2 at least partly can bedisplaceably placed within the second passageway 5.

At the distal end 8 of the proximal section 2, a bushing element 9 isattached.

The bushing element 9 is formed with a through-going third passageway 10providing fluid communication between the first and second passageway4,5. The bushing element is further formed with a neck 11 disposedwithin the first passageway. The neck may have a circumference slightlylarger than the circumference of the inner surface 12 of the proximalsection 2, thus allowing for a frictional attachment of the bushing tothe proximal section. Alternatively, the neck and proximal section areglued or welded together.

The neck extends into a shoulder part in the form of a first annular rim13. The bushing element 9 extends from the first annular rim and in theflow direction (along the axis A-A from the proximal section to thedistal section) as a conical part 14, having a surface 17 that tapersfrom a large circumference towards a smaller circumference along theflow direction. The bushing element terminates at its distal end in asecond annular rim 15.

A coupling member in the form of a coupling ring 16 is arranged aroundthe conical part. The ring has an axial dimension of about half theaxial dimension of the conical part, i.e. the length between the firstannular rim and the second annular rim.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the first annular rim has a larger radialextent than the conical part, thus providing a stop for the couplingring in the proximal end of the conical part. The second annular rim hasa larger radial extent than the conical part in the distal end, thusalso functioning as a stop for the coupling ring in this end.

Therefore, when the telescopic catheter is pulled into its extendedconfiguration, i.e. the configuration wherein it is intended to be usedfor catheterisation, the coupling ring abuts against the second annularrim 15 in the distal end of the conical part.

In this first axial position, the coupling ring 16 slightly pressesagainst the inner surface 7 of the distal section, engaging slightlywith the surface of the distal section. It should be understood thatthis slight frictional engagement is relatively small compared to theforce used by a user to pull the telescopic catheter into its extendedconfiguration. Typically, such initial engagement requires a pullingforce of approximately 1-10 N. This is a relatively small pulling force,considering that a normal human being is capable of pulling with a forceof 200N, corresponding to pulling 20 kg.

Such initial engagement allows the coupling ring to remain in engagementwith the inner surface 7 of the distal section 3. Thus, if it isattempted to push the telescopic catheter 1 into its collapsedconfiguration, i.e. pushing the proximal section into the distal sectionthe coupling ring 16 will remain in place. Thus, as can be seen fromFIG. 2, the conical part 14 slides through the ring in the axialdirection and the tapering surface 17 of the conical part pushes againstthe inner surface 18 of the coupling ring 16, pushing the coupling ringinto its second axial position. This creates a tight engagement betweenthe bushing element 9 and the distal section 3.

As can be understood, a high frictional engagement is desired betweenthe outer surface of the coupling ring and the inner surface of thedistal section, when the coupling ring is in its second axial position.However, a relatively smaller frictional engagement may be desiredbetween the inner surface of the coupling ring and the surface of theconical part. Thus, the coupling ring may slide over the surface of theconical part while engaged with the inner surface of the distal section.Forming the bushing element in e.g. polyamid or Teflon may provide sucha relative low frictional engagement.

Thus, in one alternative embodiment (not shown) the coupling ring may beformed of two materials; An inner material forming the inner surface ofthe coupling ring providing a relatively low frictional engagement withthe surface of the conical part; and an outer material forming the outersurface of the coupling ring providing a relatively high frictionalengagement with the inner surface of the distal section.

In order to further provide a tight engagement in the second axialposition of the coupling ring, the coupling ring may be provided with atleast one annular rib 19, in the embodiment shown there are providedthree annular ribs 19 a, 19 b, 19 c on the outer surface 20 of thecoupling ring. This provides a small contact area with the inner surfaceof the distal section. Thus, pressure will be distributed through theserelatively small contact areas, which results in a high pressuredistribution through each rib whereby the ribs have a tendency to diginto the material of the distal section providing a gripping engagementbetween the locking ring 16 and the distal section 3.

Although such tight engagement is relative and depends on the intendeduse of the telescopic catheter, it should be understood that the forcerequired to pull the telescopic catheter from a collapsed configuration,often the configuration wherein the catheter is stored, to its extendedconfiguration, wherein it is intended to be used, is much smaller thanpushing the catheter from its extended configuration towards itscollapsed configuration.

Furthermore, as can be seen in both FIGS. 1 and 2, the distal section 3is at its proximal end 21 formed with a narrow inner surface part 22having a decreased inner circumference compared to the circumference ofthe inner surface 7, i.e. the rest of the distal section 3. Thisprovides an edge 23, provided in the transition between the innersurface 7 and the narrowed inner surface part 22. The edge 23 functionsas a stop against the first annular flange 13, providing that the outercircumference 24 of the first annular flange is greater than the innercircumference of the narrowed inner surface part 22. This prevents thatthe proximal section and the distal section are pulled apartunintentionally.

FIG. 3 shows in section the transition area between the proximal section2 and the distal section 3 of a telescopic catheter 1 where the couplingring 16 is in its initial engagement state. The size of the radialcircumference of the coupling ring 16 is slightly larger than the radialcircumference of the inner surface 7 of the distal section 3, in a waythat the annular ribs 19 a, 19 b, 19 c of the coupling ring 16 are incontinuous contact with the inner surface 7 of the distal section 3,providing frictional engagement between the coupling ring 16 and theinner surface 7. This means that when the proximal section 2 and thedistal section 3 of the telescopic catheter 1 are manoeuvred from theircollapsed position to their extended position, the coupling ring is incontinuous contact with the inner surface 7 during the transition, whilebeing held in place relative to the bushing element 9 of the proximalsection 2 by the second annular rim 15.

In this embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, thecoupling ring 16 is in contact with the second annular rim 15 and thereis a slit 26 between the inner surface 18 of the coupling ring 16 andthe tapering surface 17 of the conical part 14, which extends along theradial inner surface 18 of the coupling ring, as shown in FIG. 4 a,which ensures that the conical part 14 of the bushing element 9 may bepushed a short distance into the coupling ring 16 without providing fullcontact between the inner surface 18 and the tapering surface 17. Thecoupling ring 16 in full contact between the inner surface 18 and thetapering surface 17 is shown in FIG. 4 b, where the slit has been filledand the opening 27 in the coupling ring has been widened, as the annularrib 19 c is pressed into the inner surface 7 of the distal section 3.

In order to ensure that the coupling ring 16 maintains its axialposition when the proximal part 2 is pushed towards its collapsedposition and the conical part 14 is moved relative to the coupling ring16, it is important that the frictional forces F₁ between the annularribs 19 a, 19 b, 19 c and the internal surface 7 of the distal section 3are larger than the frictional forces F₂ between the inner surface 18 ofthe coupling ring 16 and the tapering surface 17 of the conical part 14,F₁>F₂. In some embodiments of the present invention it is advantageousthat F₁ is significantly larger than F₂, F₁>>F₂. I

Preferably F1 is in the range 2-100% larger than F2, more preferably F1is in the range 5-70% larger than F2, yet more preferably F1 is in therange 10-40% larger than F2, and most preferably F1 is approximately 20%larger than F2. The preferred ratio between F1 and F2 is based on thespecific construction of the catheter and the specific percentage mayvary from one embodiment to another embodiment of the present invention.

In the context of the present invention, the term frictional force meansthe force of two surfaces in contact. The term may be understood aseither static friction, i.e. friction between two objects, which are notmoving relative to each other, or kinetic (dynamic) friction, which isthe friction between two objects moving relative to each other. Thefrictional forces between the annular ribs 19 a. 19 b, 19 c and theinner surface 7 of the distal section 3 are considered as staticfriction, whereas the frictional forces between the inner surface 18 ofthe coupling ring 16 and the tapering surface 17 of the conical part 14are considered as kinetic friction. A more detailed definition offriction may be seen in Physics for Scientists and Engineers with modernPhysics, Fifth Edition, Serway and Beichner, Sounders CollegePublishing, ISBN 0-03-022657-0.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the force F₁ is increased byproviding the coupling ring with at least one annular rib 19, whichprovides a smaller contact surface between the coupling ring 16 and theinner surface 7 of the distal section 3 and ensures that the forces inthe radial direction are distributed over a small surface area on theinner surface 7. Furthermore, this ensures that the annular ribs 19 arecapable of digging into the inner surface 7, providing increasedfrictional forces. The friction F1, could in different embodiments beincreased by roughening the outer surface of the coupling part 16, or byproviding the outer surface with treads, similar to those found on tiresto increase traction. Different methods of increasing the frictionalforce F₁ would be obvious to the skilled person based on the presentinvention.

As mentioned earlier, it is important to minimize the frictional forceF2 between the inner surface 18 of the coupling ring 16 and the taperedsurface 17 of the conical part 14. This may be achieved by constructingthe inner surface 18 of the coupling ring 16 and/or the tapered surface17 of the conical part 14 of low friction material, such as nylon, or bycoating the surfaces 17,18 with a non-stick material such as Teflon orsimilar material. Furthermore, the low friction surface area may beobtained by polishing the surfaces to a glossy finish, such that anyroughness of the surfaces may be removed, minimizing the friction. Evenfurther, the conical part 14 and the coupling ring may be completelyuntreated after fabrication where the construction of the conical part14 and the coupling ring 16 may provide a suitable balance between thefrictional forces, F₁>F₂.

In another embodiment, the inner surface of the coupling ring and thetapered surface of the conical part may be lubricated with a highviscous substance, such as grease, oil or similar substances, where itwould be important to ensure that the substance could not come incontact with the contact surface between the inner surface 7 of thedistal section 3 and the outer surface 19 of the coupling ring 16.

The particular embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3is provided with two rims 25 a and 25 b, which the coupling ring 16 mayeasily pass when the proximal section 2 is pulled towards the extendedposition of the telescopic catheter 1. The rims 25 a and 25 b, provide aredundant securing means, which ensures that the coupling ring does notslide past the first 25 a or the second rim 25 b, if the frictionalforces or the gripping engagement between the annular ribs 19 a, 19 b,19 c and the inner surface 7 of the distal section 3 are less than theforce pushing the coupling ring 16 towards the proximal end of thedistal section 3, when the proximal section 2 is being pushed into itscollapsed configuration.

Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5 and FIG.6, where a telescopic catheter 1, having a proximal section 2 and adistal section 3 in an extended position. FIG. 5 shows the proximalsection 3 in an unlocked position, where the coupling ring 16 is notfully engaged into the inner surface 7 of the distal member 3 and theproximal section 2 may still be moved in a direction towards itscollapsed position. In order to lock the proximal section 2 in itsextended position, the proximal section 2 has to be pulled furthertowards its extended position in a way that the bushing element 9expands the c-shaped coupling ring 16, by means of the tapered outersurface 30 of the bushing 9 and the tapered inner surface 29 of thecoupling ring 16 and the structural element 28. The coupling ring 16 isheld in its position by means of the edge 23, which stops the couplingring 16 from moving in the direction of the extended proximal section 2.

The telescopic catheter 1 in its locked position is shown in FIG. 6,where the distal section of the bushing element 9 is snugly fit insidethe coupling ring 16, where the tapered outer surface 30 of the bushingelement borders on the inner surface 29 of the coupling ring 16 and thestructural element 28 and the distal edge of the bushing element 9prevents the bushing element in exiting the inside of the coupling ring16 in a direction towards its collapsed position. As the bushing element9 is positioned inside the coupling ring 16, the coupling ring isexpanded from its normal circumference, as shown in FIG. 5, into anexpanded outer circumference, reinforced by the bushing element 9, wherethe external surface 19 of the coupling ring is fully engaged into theinner surface 7 of the distal member 3. The fully engaged coupling ring16 ensures that the proximal section 2 is limited in displacement in adirection towards the telescopic catheter's 1 collapsed position.

Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 7 a wherethe tapered surface 17 is provided with a plurality of longitudinalgrooves 31 in a direction parallel to the axis A, the axis A is shown inFIG. 6. The longitudinal grooves 31 decrease the surface area of thetapered surface 17 compared to a uniform surface, such that there isless area of the tapered surface 17 that comes in contact with the innersurface 18 of the coupling ring 16. An alternative embodiment is shownin FIG. 7 b, where the inner surface 18 of the coupling ring 16 has beenprovided with longitudinal grooves 32 in a direction parallel to theaxis A. The longitudinal grooves 32 decrease the surface area of theinner surface 18 of the coupling ring 16 compared to a uniform surfacearea. This means that the contact surface between the tapered surface 17and the inner surface 18 of the coupling ring 16 is less than with auniformed surface and the kinetic friction between the surfaces isreduced.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the present invention, where thebushing element 9 has a uniform cylindrical form from the distal end 33to the proximal end 34. At the distal end 33 there is provided a collar35, which extends radially away from the central longitudinal axis ofthe bushing element 9. At the proximal end 34 of the bushing element 9,the bushing element is connected to the proximal section 2 of thecatheter 1, as shown in FIG. 9. The outer surface 36 of the bushingelement 9 is provided with a plurality of through going openings 37,which are in this embodiment larger in the direction parallel to thecentral axis A, than along the radial curvature of the of the outersurface 36. A coupling ring 38 is moveably arranged onto the outersurface 36 of the bushing element 9, where a plurality of arms 39, eacharm 39 having at least one projection, extending in a direction radiallyaway from the central axis A. The arms are arranged to be resilientlymoveable in a radial direction from the central axis A. The arms 39 arearranged to slot into the through going openings 37 of the bushingelement 9, such that at least one arm 39 slots into one opening 37. Thecoupling ring 38, is provided with a collar 41, which extends radiallyaway from the central axis A. The projections 40 of the arms 39 arearranged to extend at least the same radial distance from the axis A asthe outer surface 42 of the collar 41 and in one embodiment theprojections 40 extend further in a radial distance from the axis A thanthe outer surface 42.

FIG. 9 shows a sectional view of a catheter 1 according to the presentinvention in an unlocked position, where the catheter is provided withthe bushing element 9 and the coupling ring 38 as shown in FIG. 8. In anunlocked position the projections 40 of the arms 39 of the coupling ring38 are in contact with the inner surface 7 of the distal section 3. Thecontact between the coupling ring 38 and the inner surface 7 ensuresthat there is friction between them. As the proximal section is pulledinto the catheters 1 extended position, the collar 35 of the bushingelement 9, ensures that the coupling ring 38 does not slide off thebushing element 9.

FIG. 10. shows a sectional view of the catheter, as shown in FIG. 9, ina locked position. The proximal section 2 has been manoeuvred towardsthe catheter's 1 collapsed configuration and the bushing element 9 hasmoved relative to the distal section 3 and the coupling ring 38. Theproximal edge 43 of the through going opening 37 presses against theresilient arm 39, pressing the arm outwardly in a radial direction awayfrom the central axis A, such that the projection 40 presses into theinner surface 7 of the distal section 3. The same pressure is exerted toall of the plurality of arms of the coupling ring and consequently toall of the plurality of projections 40. The pressure exerted onto thearm locks the proximal section 2 in an extended position and ensuresthat the catheter 1 may be inserted into a urethra of a user of thecatheter, without risking an unwanted collapse of the catheter.

In the previously mentioned embodiment, it is important that thefrictional force between the inner surface 7 of the distal section andthe outer surface of the coupling ring is larger than the frictionalforce between the inner surface of the coupling ring and the outersurface of the bushing element, ensuring that the bushing element isdisplaceable relative to the coupling ring, when manoeuvring thecatheter into its locked configuration.

FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 show a partial sectional diagram of anotherembodiment of a telescopic catheter according to the present inventionin an unlocked position. In this embodiment the bushing element 9 is ofa uniform cylindrical shape and is provided with an expansion means 44,in the form of a wedge shaped element. The central axis of the expansionmeans 44 is positioned in a direction that is parallel to the centralaxis A of the catheter 1, having a distal end 45, which is pointed and aproximal end 46 which is wide. The catheter 1 is provided with an opencoupling ring 47, which is substantially c-shaped, where the expansionmeans 44 are positioned within the opening 48 of the coupling ring. Thefree ends 49 of the coupling ring 47 are substantially parallel to thesides of the expansion means 44. The contact surface between thecoupling ring 47 and the bushing element 9, is preferably a low frictionsurface, such that the coupling ring 47 can easily be manoeuvredrelative to the bushing element 9. The outer surface 49 of the couplingring 47 is in contact with the inner surface 7 of the distal section 3of the catheter 1, where the frictional forces between the inner surface7 and the outer surface 50 of the coupling ring is to be larger that thefrictional forces between the inner surface 48 of the coupling ring 47and the bushing element 9.

The proximal section 2 has been manoeuvred into its extended positionand a collar 51 on the distal end of the bushing element 9 ensures thatthe coupling ring 47 does not slide of the bushing element 9. In orderto lock the catheter 1 and the proximal section 2 in the catheters 1extended position, as shown in FIG. 12, the proximal section 2 ismanoeuvred towards its collapsed position, as mentioned earlier and thebushing means 9 move relative to the coupling ring 47, where theexpansion means 44 engage the opening 48 of the coupling ring 47 andforce the coupling ring 47 to expand in a radial direction away from thecentral axis A. The expanded coupling ring 47 engages the inner surface7 of the distal section 3 and ensures that the proximal section 2 of thecatheter 1 remains in its extended position, such that the extendedcatheter 1 can be inserted into the urethra of the user.

As can be understood from the above, one way of determining the forcerequired to pull the catheter into an extended configuration or theforce required to push the catheter into a collapsed configuration maybe through the materials used for the different part of the catheter.

Thus, the proximal section may be produced of rather soft materials suchas polyurethane, PVC (polyvinylchloride) or similar flexible materialsand the distal section may for example be produced of hard materialssuch as polyurethane, polyolefines, PEEK (polyetheretherketon), PC(polycarbonate), PET (polyester, polyethylenephtalate), ABS(acrylonitril-butadien-styrene) and/or MABS (methylmethacrylateacrylonitril-butadien-styrene). As can be seen some materials, forexample polyurethane, can be used for both the distal and proximalsection, although with different hardness.

The bushing element is typically formed of a relatively hard material inorder to prevent deformation of the conical shaped surface area when thecoupling ring presses against the distal section in its second axialposition. Such materials can be numerous and selected between manydifferent plastics but also aluminium, steel, brass etc. In order to beable to weld the bushing element to the proximal section a polyurethanemay be used, for example Desmopan as mentioned above. Other plasticmaterials can for example be polyolefins, such as polypropylene,polyethylene, EVA (polyethylene vinylacetate copolymer), ABS MABS,Kraton, PET, PC, PCTG(copolyester/polycarbonat) blends, HIPS (highimpact polystyrene), PA (polyamid), SAN (styrene-acrylonitril), PS(polystyrene) and SEBS (styrene-ethylene/bothylene-styrene).

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the coupling ringand the distal section may be manufactured of the same type of material,such as those materials described above in relation to the coupling ringand the distal section.

As mentioned previously, the coupling ring may be formed relatively hardrelative to the distal section in order to be able to dig into thematerial of the distal section. Or, if the coupling ring is formedrelatively soft relative to the distal section it is possible to providea frictional engagement. In such embodiment, the coupling ring can forexample be formed of SBS (Styrene Butadiene Styrene), SEBS, silicone,TPU (Thermoplastic Urethane), rubber (such as nitril, santoprene etc.).

Coupling rings formed of a relatively hard material may be formed asopen rings, i.e. having a c-shape when seen in cross section. Thisallows for the ring to have spring like characteristics where it can becompressed into a smaller annular enveloping circumference and expandedto a larger annular enveloping circumference than when the open ring isin its neutral, non-loaded, shape.

Coupling rings formed of a relatively soft material may be formed asclosed ring, as the material itself is being compressed providing africtional engagement as described above.

Furthermore, the inner surface of the distal section can be formed withrims and/or groves. These ribs or groves provide an even firmerengagement between the coupling ring and the distal section, as theannular ribs formed on the outer surface of the coupling ring willengage with the ribs or groves. Such ribs or groves can be formed at theproximal end of the distal section in order to improve the engagementbetween the distal section and the proximal section when the telescopiccatheter is in its expanded configuration.

1. A telescopic intermittent urinary catheter comprising a distalsection and a proximal section displaceably arranged in an axialdirection within the distal section, wherein a coupling member isprovided relatively displaceable to the proximal section, between atleast, a first axial position wherein the proximal section isdisplaceable within the distal section, and a second axial positionwherein the coupling member engages between the proximal section and thedistal section limiting displacement in at least one longitudinaldirection, where the coupling member engages the interior of the distalsection, wherein the coupling member is arranged around a conical shapedsurface area of the proximal section tapering along the axial directionand engages an inner surface of the distal section.
 2. The catheter ofclaim 1, wherein the coupling member is a coupling ring having an innersurface facing the proximal section and an outer surface facing thedistal section.
 3. The catheter of claim 2, wherein the coupling ring isexpandable from a first radial extent in the first axial position to asecond radial extent in the second axial position and wherein the radialextent of the inner and/or the outer surface of the coupling ring islarger in the second radial extent than in the first radial extent. 4.The catheter of claim 2, wherein the coupling ring is formed as an openring, having a c-shape when seen in cross section.
 5. The catheter ofclaim 1, wherein the outer surface of the coupling member is providedwith at least one rib.
 6. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the outersurface of the coupling member is provided with treads.
 7. The catheterof claim 1, wherein the conical shaped surface area is provided as aseparate bushing element attached to the distal end of the proximalsection.
 8. The catheter of claim 7, wherein the bushing element isformed with a through-going opening along the axial direction.
 9. Thecatheter of claim 1, wherein the conical shaped surface area is providedwith a low friction surface.
 10. The catheter of claim 2, wherein africtional force, F1, between the inner surface of the distal sectionand the outer surface of the coupling member is larger than a frictionalforce, F2, between the inner surface of the coupling member and theproximal section.